Christian leaders in Nigeria’s Kaduna State “grieving” amid Persistent Attacks, Killings

Pastor John Joseph Hayab adds, “One only needs to see how human beings are killed and roasted by bandits who attacked Kagoro to conclude that this is one loss too many.”

“How long will this evil continue and when will our leaders act dutifully? Kaduna State citizens are tired of the Government’s rhetorical responses without concrete action taken to protect lives and property,” the CAN official further says.

The official of the Christian entity that includes representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) adds, “We want to hear and see the killers and kidnappers arrested as the government’s usual media condemnation whenever there is havoc is not good enough.”

“For the record, Kaduna state has lost several lives in the past four years while the leaders scarcely show empathy or concern for the victims seeing that the government’s response is usually in the media. Sadly, the dead cannot read nor listen to the news,” the CAN official says.

Nigeria’s Kaduna state has been described as the “epicenter of kidnapping and banditry activity” due to the heightened levels of insecurity.

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According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the Nigerian State continues to experience alarming levels of violence despite being the headquarters of 11 military installations.

Statistics released by TheCable Index earlier this year indicated that Kaduna State was among Nigerian States with the highest number of reported deaths in 2021.

In the March 21 report, Pastor Hayab calls on residents to put in place mechanisms for self-defense saying, “We appeal to citizens to also wake up and do the needful, protecting their lives and community.”

“When a government fails to protect you, you ought to find a means of defending yourself,” the CAN official in Kaduna State says. 

CAN leadership also calls on the Kaduna State Government to “swallow her pride and accept that she has failed the people, genuinely seeking help to immediately halt the wanton killings, kidnappings, and terrorist activities going on in the state.”

“Governor El-rufai and his team should focus on the fight to salvage the state so that he will be remembered for good when he leaves office,” the CAN official says in the March 21 report.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.